Applicator for self-adhesive sheet material

ABSTRACT

An applicator for applying to a surface sheet material having on one side thereof a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive and a removable protective sheet extending over the adhesive coating is provided in the form of a longitudinal body having defined therein a concavity and a longitudinal slot opening into said concavity. A longitudinal guide member extends within said concavity and a convex presser edge is located adjacent the concavity. The applicator is used by passing the sheet material to be applied through the slot into the concavity and about the guide member with the sheet material passing out of the slot to a position between the presser edge and the surface upon which it is to be applied. By moving the applicator along the surface in the direction in which the sheet material is to be applied, pressure may be exerted through the presser edge to adhere the material to the surface and to simultaneously strip therefrom the protective sheet.

United States Patent [191 Buske Sept. 23, 1975 1 APPLICATOR FORSELF-ADHESIVE SHEET MATERIAL [75] Inventor: Walter E. Buske, Amesbury,Mass.

[73] Assignee: United Merchants and Manufacturers, Inc., New York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Dec. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 426,532

[52] US. Cl. 156/574; 156/579; 156/584 [51] Int. Cl. B32B 31/20 [58]Field of Search 156/574, 577, 579, 584,

Primary Examiner-Douglas J. Drummond Assistant ExaminerM. G. WityshynAttorney, Agent, or FirmMichael A. Caputo; John P. McGann; Jules E.Goldberg [57] ABSTRACT An applicator for applying to a surface sheetmaterial having on one side thereof a coating of pressuresensitiveadhesive and a removable protective sheet extending over the adhesivecoating is provided in the form of a longitudinal body having definedtherein a concavity and a longitudinal slot opening into said concavity.A longitudinal guide member extends within said concavity and a convexpresser edge is located adjacent the concavity. The applicator is usedby passing the sheet material to be applied through the slot into theconcavity and about the guide member with the sheet material passing outof the slot to a position between the presser edge and the surface uponwhich it is to be applied. By moving the applicator along the surface inthe direction in which the sheet material is to be applied, pressure maybe exerted through the presser edge to adhere the material to thesurface and to simultaneously strip therefrom the protective sheet.

17 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 0f 23,907,628

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,907,628

APPLICATOR FOR SELF-ADHESIVE SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally'to apparatus for applyingself-adhesive sheetsto walls or other surfaces. and more particularly toan applicator which facilitates simultaneous separation of a backinglayer from the self-adhesive sheet during its application.

Self-adhesive sheets of the type referred'to herein are formed with apressure-sensitive adhesive coating on one side thereof and with adecorative design or pattern on the opposite side. Such sheets arecommercially available in rolls and the entire adhesive side of thecontinuous sheet forming'the roll is covered with a protective backinglayer, typically made of paper. to prevent adulteration of the adhesive.The protective backing must be stripped from thesheet during or prior toits application to a surface.

Application of such self-adhesive sheets requires some dexterity inorder to avoid formation of wrinkles, creases, and air bubbles in theapplied sheets. Since the sheets themselves are fairly pliable and sinceremoval of the protective backing during or before application isnecessary. some difficulty may be encountered in producing a smoothlyapplied sheet. Furthermore, the process can be time-consuming, and ifthe sheets are not properly applied when initially adhered to a surfaceto be covered. subsequent attempts to detach and readhere the sheet maycause tearing or damage.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adevice useful in facilitating smooth application of such self-adhesivesheets, which operates to simultaneously apply a wrinkle-free sheet to asurface while effecting ready removal of the protective backing as thesheet is being applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention may be describedas an applicator for applying to a surface sheet material having one oneside thereof a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive and a removableprotective sheet extending over said adhesive coating, said applicatorcomprising a longitudinal body, a concavity defined in said body by awall extending longitudinally therealong, said concavity terminating ata pair of spaced longitudinal borders, a longitudinal slot extendingalong said body portion and defined between the borders of saidconcavity to provide an opening through which said sheet material may bepassed into and out of said concavity, a convex presser edge adjacentthe concavity, and a longitudinal guide member located withintheconcavity and spaced therefrom to permit said sheet material to passabout said guide member between the guide member and the concavity wall.

In the operation of the device, a single layer of sheet material iswound about the guide member by passing the sheet material into and outof the concavity through the slot. The process of applying the sheetmaterial to a surface is initiated by manually stripping a small portionof the protective backing from the leading edge of the sheet materialand applying the exposed adhesive side of the sheet material to asurface at a location to commence its application thereto. Subsequently,the presser edge is positioned over the adhered portion of the sheetmaterial and by manual application of pressure while the applicator ismoved in the direction in which the sheet material is to be applied, theprotective backing may be easily peeled away as the material is pressedto the surface to be covered by the presser edge. Continued movement ofthe applicator over the surface to be covered while applying a slightpressure thereto will effect a smooth, wrinkle-free and air bubble freecovering.

The applicator may be provided with a supplemental presser surfacelocated to pass over the sheet material after the presser edge in orderto insure the application of a uniform pressure completely adhering thesheet material to the covered surface.

A presser edge may be formed on both sides of the longitudinal slot inorder to enable utilization of the applicator in either one of tworeversible positions.

The applicator may be made in two parts, with the longitudinal .bodybeing formed on an integral unit shaped to define thereon the concavitywith the longitudinal slot opening thereinto and with V the convexpresser edge located at or adjacent the borders of the slot. The guidemember may be formed as a separate piece mounted upon the longitudinalbody within the concavity.

The longitudinal body may be formed symmetrically about a planeextending perpendicular to the plane of the slot thereby enabling theapplicator to be used in an identical manner in either one of tworeversible positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be morefully understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventionshowing the longitudinal body portion of the applicator from the sidedefining the concavity and showing the guide member mounted as acantilever therein;

FIG. la is a partial perspective view showing an alternative structurefor the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is perspective view illustrating the manner whereby the sheetmaterial to be applied may be engaged by the applicator;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner whereby the applicatormay be manipulated to effect application of the sheet material to asurface to be covered; I v n FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view takenalong the Iin 4- 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view ofa second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 5 showing themanner whereby the applicator may be utilized in a first position toapply sheet material to a surface to be covered;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 5 illustrating themanner whereby the applicator may be used in a position which is thereverse of the position shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 8 illustrating themanner whereby the applicator may be used in a first position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 8 showing themanner whereby the applicator may be of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 13 illustratingthe manner whereby the applicator is used; I

FIG. l-'is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;and I I 1 FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. l5villustrating the manner whereby the applicator may be. used.

ETAILED DESCRIPTION O THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now-to FIG. 1,an applicator according to the present invention comprises alongitudinal body portion and a longitudinal guide member 12. The

body I0 is formed as an integral unit having a U shaped configurationdefining a concavity 14 which extends the entire length of the body 10.The concavity l4 islocated between a pair of legs 16 and 18 andterminates at a pair of borders 20 and 22 which are spaced apart to formth'erebe'tween a longitudinal slot or opening permitting access into theconcavity 14. As will be described hereinafter, each of the borders 20and 22 also functions as a convex presser edge which operates to effectapplication of sheet material to a surface to be covered while.simultaneously enabling peeling away of a protectivebacking from thesheet material.

:Additionally, the-body .10 is shaped to define thereon a pairofprotuberancnes 24 and 26, each of which operate as a supplementalpresser surface, in a manner to bedescribed hereinafter.

The guide member 12 islocated withinthe concavity 14 and extendslongitudinally along the length of the body 10. A pair of screws 28, orother similar attachment means, mount the guide member 12 at one endthereof to-the body 10 The mounting of the guide ,member'l2 to the body10 is arranged to provide a spacing 30 between the wall of the body 10which defines the concavity 14 and the guide member 12. It will .beapparent that the guide member 12 is mounted as a cantilever having afree end. Furthermore, it will be seen from the drawings that the body10 is configured to define cavity 14 so that it is open at both its,longitudinal ends. As a result, sheet material may be inserted into thecavity 14 betweenthe body 10 and the guide member '12 at the free end of.the guide member 12' which is the end closest to the viewer as shown inFIG.

guide manner 12 may be formed with a bevelled surface 13 to facilitateinsertion of the sheet material into the cavity 14.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the body 10 is made of wood andthe guide member 12 is formed as a metallic, generally U-shaped channelmember dimensioned to be fitted within the concavity l4. However,

it will be apparent that other suitable materials within the knowledgeof those skilled in the art may be appro- Alternatively, as shown inFIG. la, the free end of the priately'utilized informing the body 10,and the .guide member 12. Additionally. it should be noticed that thebody 10 is formed symmetrically about a plane extending centrallythereof which is perpendicular to a plane containing the borders 20 and22.v This symmetrical arrangement of the device enhances its economy ofmanufacturesince it maybe more simply formed, for example by plasticmolding techniques. Furthermore, the adaptability of the device isexpanded inasmuch as the device maybe used to operate in an identicalmanner in either one of two reversible positions.

The applicator of this invention is especially suited for use in theapplication of sheet material 40 such as that; depicted in FIGS. 2-4which includes a pressuresensitive adhesive 42 extending completelyalong one side thereof and a decorative pattern of design (not shown) onth e opposite or front side 44 thereof. Sheet material of this typeisnormally commercially distributed in the form of a continuous roll andincludes a protective, removable backinglayer 46 extending completelyacross the adhesive side of the sheet material 40. The. protective,layer 46 may be made of paper or other suitable material andmust bestripped or peeled from the sheet material 40 during or prior to itsapplication. The sheet material .40 is used by placing the aderation isperformed solely by hand, the protective layer 46 must first be strippedfrom the sheet material 40 and the material 40 must be subsequentlyapplied to the surface 48 to initiate its attachment thereto. Followinginitial attachment of the sheet material 40, the backing layer 46 mustcontinue to be stripped therefrom as subsequent portions of the material40 are applied to the surface to be covered. The sheet material 40 isquite pliable, and when this operation is performed solely by.hand,7itbecomes difficult to manipulatethe material in a manner producing asmooth, wrinkle-free covering. Quite often, creases will develop'in thematerial 40 as it is being applied thereby requiring that the materialbe pulled from the wall 48 and subsequently readhered thereto in anattempt to remove any creases or bulges which may develop. Quite'oftenthis results in tearing of the material or other damage theretorendering the ma'terial'un'suitable' as a decorative covering. Thepresent invention is intended to eliminate the difficulty andto'facilitate achievement of a smooth, wrinkle-freecovering. In theoperation of the applicator of the present invention, a small amount ofthe protective backing 46 is first removed'from the sheet material 40thereby exposing an initial .area of adhesiv'e commencing from a leadingedge of the material. This small area portion is first applied by handupon the surface to becoveredin a sufficientamount merely to effectinitiali'attachment of the material 40.

Subsequently, the composite sheet, including the covering sheet 40 andthe protective layer 46 is located within the concavity 14 between theguide member 12 and the wall of the longitudinal body 10 defining theconcavity 14. With the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, this maybe'convenientlyaccomplished by placing the left edge 50 of the'composite sheet, as viewed in FIGI 2, within the right-most end of thespacing 30, also as viewed in FIG 2,between the guide member 12 and ithe body 10. Subsequently, the applicator may be moved to the right asseen in FIG. 2 until the entire width of the composite sheet is placedwithin the concavity 14. i

As will be apparent from FIGS. 2-4, with the composite sheet in thisposition it will extend into the concavity 14 through the longitudinalslot formed between the borders 20 and 22, around the guide member 12and will subsequently pass outwardly from the concavity 14 by againpassing through the longitudinal slot defined between borders 20 and 22.

After the composite sheet has been inserted within the applicator in themanner described, the uppermost border 22 is placed against the sheetmaterial 40 at a point above the line of separation between the sheetmaterial 40 and the protective layer 46. As previously stated, theborder 22 not only functions to define one of the limits of theconcavity 14 but is also shaped to define therealong a convex presseredge which operates to press the sheet 40 against the surface 48 and tocontinuously strip therefrom the protective backing 46 duringapplication of the sheet.

This is accomplished by tilting the applicator upwardly to the positionshown in FIGS. '3 and 4 with the presser edge 22 bearing against thesheet 40 and by moving the applicator downwardly along the surface 48 inthe direction indicated by the arrow 52 in FIG. 3.

Since the composite sheet must first wind about the guide member 12, itis forced to pass about the presser edge 22 in a manner whereby thepresser edge 22 will apply a force tending to continuously strip theprotec tive layer 46 from the sheet material 40 as the applicator ismoved downwardly along the wall or surface to be covered. This method ofoperation is more clearly depicted in FIG. 4. As seen therein, the sheetmaterial 40 is forced to extend in a direction away from the wall 48precisely at the point X at which adhesion is occurring. Since theprotective backing 46 extends downwardly from this point, it is forcedaway from the sheet 40 by the presser edge 22 almost simultaneously withadhesion of the sheet 40 to the wall 48. Accordingly, it will be seenthat the presser edge 22, cooperating with the guide member 12, operatesnot only to apply pressure to effect adhesion of the sheet material 40by operation of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, but also tosimultaneously strip the protective backing 46 from the sheet material40 as application is occurring.

By tilting the applicator to the position shown in FIG. 4, thesupplemental presser surface defined along the protuberance 26 willcontact the sheet 44 after the presser edge 22 has passed thereover.The'supplemental surface 26 operates to supplement the action of thepresser edge 22 and to insure that any portion of the sheet material 40which has not been thoroughly ad hered will be exposed to subsequentpressure to insure complete engagement of the adhesive coating.

If desired, a brushing strip 54 may be provided along the body adjacentthe presser edge 22 in order to brush away any loose particles or otherdirt present on the face of the sheet material 40.

It will be apparent that because of its symmetrical configuration, theapplicator of the invention may be also used by reversing its positionfrom that shown in FIG. 4. That is, the applicator may be engaged withthe sheet material by first inserting the righthand edge of themateriaL'as seen in FIG. 2, into the concavity l4 and subsequentlysliding the applicator to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. In thisposition, the location of the presser edges 22 and 20 would be reversedand the sheet material would pass through the space 30 in an oppositedirection. Furthermore, the supplemental presser surface defined by theprotuberance 24 would replace the surface of the protuberance 26.However, in all other respects the operation of the device would beidentical with that previously described.

A second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-7 includes alongitudinal body 60 and a guide member 62. The body 62 is shaped todefine therein a concavity 64 formed by a longitudinal inner wall 66 ofthe body 60. The wall 66 extends the entire length of the body 60 andforms the concavity 64 as opened at each of its longitudinal ends. Thecavity 64 terminates a pair of borders 68 and 70 which definetherebetween a longitudinal slot 72 opening into the concavity 64. Thewall 66 is also shaped to define within the concavity 64 a pair ofkeyways 74 and 76 located inboard of the borders 68 and 70.

Located on one side of the concavity 64 and outwardly thereof is aconvex prsser edge 80 which extends along the length of the body 60. Asimilar convex presser edge 82 is formed on the opposite side of theconcavity 64.

The outer surface of the body 60 extends from the presser edge 80 toform a protuberance 84 defining a supplemental presser surface 86 whichextends along the length of the body 60. On the opposite side of thebody 60, the outer surface thereof extends from the presser edge 82 toform another supplemental presser surface 88 shaped as a generallyflat-planar surface extending longitudinally along the body 60. The rearside of the body 60 is formed to define a longitudinal handle 90 whichfacilitates gripping and manipulation of the applicator during use.

The guide member 62 is configured over the major portion of its lengthas a circular cylindrical bodyextending lengthwise through the concavity64 and having at one end thereof a pair of oppositely extending members92 and 94 which operate as keys engaged within the keyways 74 and 76.Thus, the guide member 62 is mounted as a cantilever within theconcavity 64 and the keys 92, 94 may be arranged to be slidably en-'gaged within the keyways 74, 76 in order that the guide member 62 may beremovably mounted within the body 60.

The operation of the applicator of FIGS. 5-7 is similar to thatpreyiously described and the composite sheet 40, 46 may be insertedwithin the concavity 64 and wound about the guide members 62 asindicated above. Alternatively, the guide member 62 may be removed fromwithin the concavity 64 and may be subsequently replaced therein bysliding the keys 92, 94 into the keyways 74, 76 after the compositesheet has been situated in place within the concavity 64.

After the sheet material 40 has been initially engaged upon the surface48, with the comp.) site portion of the sheet material extending throughthe concavity 64 and about the guide member 62, the applicator is raiseduntil a presser edge is located above the separation line between theprotective layer 46 and the sheet material 40. As shown in FIG. 6, theapplicator may be utilized in a'first position whereby the presser edge82 is opera tive to separate the protective layer 46 from the sheetmaterial 40. In the position shown in FIG. 6, the presser edge 82 isarranged to engage the sheet material 40 at a point away from thesurface 48. By virtue of the re versal of direction of the path of thesheet material. the separation of the backing layer will occur as theapplicator is moved downwardly. Pressure is applied to the sheetmaterial 40 by the supplemental presser surface 88 to insure that thematerial 40 is adhered upon the surface 48. Alternatively, theapplicator as shown in FIG. 6 may be tilted slightly in counterclockwisedirection so that the presser edge 82 is brought to bear against thesurface 48. With the device in this position, the lower end of thesupplemental surface 88, which is formed as a small protuberance havinga supplemental presser surface 98, will follow the presser edge 82 inengagement with the sheet material 40 thereby acting to supplement thepressure on the sheet material 40 tending to cause adhesion of thematerial upon the surface 48.

As shown in -FIG. 7, the applicator may be utilized in a position whichis the reverse of the position shown in FIG. 6. With the applicatorplaced in the alternative reversed position of FIG. 7, the presser edge80 will bear against the surface 48 and operate in a manner similar tothe presser edge 22 described in connection with the embodiment of FIG.4. Similarly, the supplemental presser surface 86 will follow thepresser edge 80 in engagement with the material .40 and will operate ina manner identical to the operation of the supplemental presser surface26 depicted in FIG. 4.

A third embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 8-10and comprises a longitudinal body 100 and a guide member 102. The body100 is formed with an inner cylindrical wall 104 defining therein aconcavity 106 terminating at a pair of borders I08 and 110 which arespaced apart to define therebetween a longitudinal slot 112 opening intothe concavity 106. A presser edge 114 is located adjacent the border 108and another presser edge 116 is located adjacent the border 1 10.

The guide member 102 is formed as a hollow circular cylinder having anouter diameter D. The width of the slot 112 determined by the spacingbetween the borders 108 and 110 is dimensioned to be smaller than thediameter D of the guide member 102 thereby preventing the guide memberfrom passing through the slot 112 after it has been located in theposition shown within the concavity 106. The guide member 102 restsunsupported within the concavity 106 and although it may freely rotatetherein, lateral expulsion thereof from within the concavity 106 isprevented by the portions of the wall 104 adjacent the borders 108 and110.

Operation of this embodiment is similar to the operation described inconnection with the previously disclosed embodiments and it would beapparent that the sheet material may be inserted within the gap betweenthe guide member 102 and the wall 104 by introduction thereof fromeither end of the applicator inasmuch as no supporting means for theguide member 102 are present to obstruct the path of the sheet material.With the sheet material wound about the guide member 102 and with theapplicator in the position depicted in FIG. 9, the presser edge 116 willengage the sheet material 40 to separate the protective layer 46therefrom and to urge the material 40 into contact with the surface 48,in the manner previously described. As the applicator is moveddownwardly as viewed in FIG. 9, a protuberance 118 defining asupplemental presser surface 120 follows the presser edge 116 inengagement with the sheet material 40 and operates to assistin itsapplication in the manner previously described. In use, the applicatormay be gripped by an extension member 122 serving as a handle. L

FIG. 10 depicts the applicator in use while in an alternative positionwhich is the reverse of the position shown in FIG. 9. In the position ofFIG. 10 the presser edge 114 engages the sheet material 40 at a pointslightly spaced from the surface 48 and a supplemental presser surface124 follows the presser edge I 14 in engagement with the sheet material40'as the applicator is moved downwardly and applies pressure to adherethe sheet material 40 to the surface 48.

FIGS. 1'1-16 depict three additional embodiments of the presentinvention which are somewhat similar in that they each comprise aconfiguration which is symmetrical about a plane extending along thecenter of the longitudinal body and perpendicular to the plane of thelongitudinal slot formed between the borders defining the terminationsof the concavity within which the sheet material is wound.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, an applicator body has mountedtherein as a cantilever a guide member 132 located within a concavity134 defined by the inner walls of the body 130. A pair of inner walls136 and 138 are juxtaposed in a generally U-shaped ar rangement on oneside of the body 130, and an identical pair of V-shaped juxtaposed walls140 and 142 located on the opposite side of the body 130 are arrangedcontiguous with the walls 136, 138 to form the concavity 134. A pair ofborders 144 and 146 define the outer limits of the concavity 134 andalso define therebetween a longitudinal slot 148 opening into theconcavity 134.

The guide member 132 has affixed to one end thereof a block 150 whichsupports the member 132 as a cantilever extending longitudinally withinthe concavity 134. Block 150 is shaped to fit the contours of theconcavity 134 as defined by the walls 136, 138, 142, and 140 and it isattached thereto by gluing or other appropriate means.

The body 130 is shaped to define a pair of presser edges 152 and 154 anda pair of supplemental presser surfaces 156 and 158. The applicator ofFIGS. 11 and 12 is utilized ina manner similar to that previouslydescribed by insertion of a composite sheet 40, 46 into the cavity 134through the open end of the applicator located opposite the end at whichthe block 150 is mounted. FIG. 12 depicts the applicator while in use.

A similar alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 comprises abody 160 with'a guide member 162 mounted within a concavity 164 definedby a generally V-shaped wall 166. However, in this embodiment the guidemember 162 is not mounted as a cantilever, but is instead supported atboth ends by a pair of blocks 168 and 169 affixed to the wall 166 ateach end of the concavity 164. A longitudinal slot 170 defined between apair of borders 172 and 174, which also define the terminations of theconcavity 164, is made somewhat wider than in the other embodiments tofacilitate insertion ofthe sheet material. A pair of presser edges 176and 178 are also defined by contours of the body 160 and a protuberance180 defines on either side thereof a pair of supplemental pressersurfaces 182 and 184. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, the sheetmaterial is not inserted from an end of the applicator but is insteaddirected by winding its leading edge through'the slot l70around theguide member 162. Subsequently, a small portion of the'backing layer 46is manually stripped from the sheet material 40 to initiate application.The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 is similar in allother aspects to'that previously described and its mode of utilizationis depicted in FIG. 14.

A further alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 comprises abody 190 configured with an internal generally U-shaped wall 192defining a concavity 194 having located therein a guide member 196mounted as a cantilever by a block 198 glued or otherwise affixed towall 192. A pair of presser edges 200 and 202 are located, respectively,adjacent a pair of borders 204 and 206 defining therebetween alongitudinal slot 208 at the terminations of the concavity 194. A pairof protuberances 210 and 212 define. respectively, a pair ofsupplemental presser surfaces 214 and 216. The embodiment of FIGS. 15and 16 operates in a manner identical to that previously described inconnection with other embodiments of the invention with insertion of acomposite sheet 40, 46 within the cavity 194 being enabled by theoverall configuration of the body 190 as an openended structure at itsend opposite the end at which the block 198 is located. The embodimentof FIGS. 15 and 16 is depicted during use in Fl(]. [6 of the drawing.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withcertain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that othermodifications and alterations in structure are possible withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator for applying to a surface sheet mate rial having on oneside thereof a coating of pressuresensitive adhesive and a removableprotective sheet extending over said adhesive coating, said applicatorcomprising: a longitudinal body, a concavity defined in said body by awall extending longitudinally therealong, said concavity terminating ata pair of spaced longitudinal borders; a longitudinal slot extendingalong said body portion and defined between said borders of saidconcavity; a convex presser edge adjacent said concavity; and alongitudinal guide member located within said concavity and spacedtherefrom to permit passage of said sheet material about said guidemember and between said guide member and said concavity wall; saidconcavity being open at at least one of its longitudinal ends; saidguide member being arranged within said concavity to define between saidconcavity wall and said guide member an unobstructed space extendingcontinuously from said open end of said concavity a sufficie nt distanceto permit insertion of said sheet material between said concavity walland said guide member through said concavity open end; said guide memberbeing arranged as a cantilever supported at one end thereof oppositesaid concavity open end; said longitudinal slot being configured topermit said sheet material to pass continuously therethrough into saidconcavity around said guide member and outwardly thereof to between saidpresser edge and said surface; said presser edge being arranged to applypressure against said sheet material during application thereof in acontinuous manner when said applicator is pressed against said surfaceand moved in the direction in which said sheet material is to be appliedwhereby said applicator may be manipulated to apply a force through saidpresser edge to effect continuous application of said sheet material tosaid surface and simultaneous separation therefrom of said protectivesheet.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member isformed in a generally cylindrical configuration having a diametraldimension and wherein the transverse distance across said bordersdefining said slot is less than said diametral dimension.

3. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said convex presser edgeextends along a border of said concavity. 7

4. An applicator according to claim 1 including a convex presser edgelocated on each side of said longitudinal slot.

A 5. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein each of said pair oflongitudinal borders is formed as a convex presser edge. e

6. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal body isconfigured as an integral structure shaped to define thereon saidconcavity, said longitudinal slot and said convex presser edge.

7. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member isremovably mounted within said concavity.

8. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal body isconfigured in a generally U-shaped configuration with said concavitydefined between the legs of said U-shape.

9. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal body isformed symmetrically about a plane which extends centrally along thelength of said body and which is perpendicular to a plane containingsaid longitudinal slot.

10. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said body is formed todefine said concavity as including a pair of opposed keyways extendingalong said body and wherein said guide member includes at one endthereof a pair of oppositely extending blocks sized to be engaged withinsaid keyways to support said guide member.

11. An applicator according to claim I wherein said guide memberincludes a block affixed at one end thereof, said block be'n g shaped tofit within said concavity at one end of said longitudinal body and beingaffixed thereat to support said guide member.

12. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member issupported at two longitudinally spaced apart locations, with thespacingbetween said supports being sufficient to permit insertion therebetweenof said sheet material. i

13. An applicator according to claim 12 wherein said guide memberincludes a pair of blocks affixed at each end thereof, said blocks beingshaped to fit within said concavity at each end of said longitudinalbody and being affixed thereat to support said guide member.

14. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member isformed as a generally U-shaped channel member having a bevelledconfiguration at the end thereof opposite said one end to facilitateinsertion of said sheet material through said open end.

15. An applicator for applying to a surface sheet material having on oneside thereof a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive and a removableprotective sheet extending over said adhesive coating, said applicatorcomprising: a longitudinal body, a concavity defined in said body by awall extending longitudinally therealong, said concavity terminating ata pair of spaced longitudina] borders; a longitudinal slot extendingalong said body portion and defined between said borders of saidconcavity; a convex presser edge adjacent said concavity; a supplementalpresser surface located on a side of said presser edge opposite saidlongitudinal slot and extendingalong said longitudinal body; and alongitudinal guide member located within said, concavity and spacedtherefrom to permit passage of said sheet material about said guidemember and between said guide member and said concavity wall; saidlongitudinal slot being configured to permit said sheet material to passcontinuously therethrough into said concavity around said guide memberand outwardly thereof to between said presser edge and said surface;said presser edge 7 being arranged to apply pressure against said sheetmaterial during the application thereof in a continuous manner when saidapplicator is pressed against said surface and moved in the direction inwhich said sheet material is to be applied whereby said applicator maybe to said surface and simultaneous separation therefrom manipulated toapply a force through said presser edge to effect continuous applicationof said sheet material of said protective sheet; said supplementalpresser surface being arranged to engage said sheet material subsequentto engagement thereof by said presser edge to facilitate smoothapplication of said sheet material to said surface when said applicatoris moved in the direction in which said sheet material is to be applied.

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING TO A SURFACE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING ON ONESIDE THEREOF A COATING OF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE AND A REMOVABLEPROCTECTIVE SHEET EXTENDING OVER SAID ADHESIVE COATING, SAID APPLICATORCOMPRISING: A LONGITUDINAL BODY, A CONCAVITY DEFINED IN SAID BODY BY AWALL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREALONG, SAID CONCAVITY TERMINATING ATA PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINAL BORDERS, A LONGITUDINAL SLOT EXTENDINGALONG SAID BODY PORTION AND DEFINED BETWEEN SAID BORDERS OF SAIDCONCAVITY, A CONVEX PRESSER EDGE ADJACENT SAID CONCAVITY, AND ALONGITUDINAL GUIDE MEMBER LOCATED WITHIN SAID CONCAVITY AND SPACEDTHEREFROM TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL ABOUT SAID GUIDEMEMBER AND BETWEEN SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND SAID CONCAVITY WALL, SAIDCONCAVITY BEING OPEN AT AT LEAST ONE OF ITS LONGITUDINAL ENDS, SAIDGUIDE MEMBER BEING ARRANGED WITHIN SAID CONCAVITY TO DEFINE BETWEEN SAIDCONCAVITY WALL AND SAID GUIDE MEMBER AN UNOBSTRUTED SPACE EXTENDINGCONTINUOUSLY FROM SAID OPEN OF SAID CONCAVITY A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TOPERMIT INSERTION OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID CONCAVITY WALL ANDSAID GUIDE MEMBER THROUGH SAID CONCAVITY OPEN END, SAID GUIDE MEMBERBEING ARRANGED AS A CANTILEVER SUPPORTED AT ONE END THEREOF OPPOSITESAID CONCAVITY OPEN END, SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT BEING CONFIGURED TOPERMIT SAID SHEET MATERIAL TO PASS CONTINUOUSLY THERETHROUGH INTO SAIDCONCAVITY AROUND SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND OUTWARDLY THEREOF TO BETWEEN SAIDPRESSER EDGE AND SAID SURFACE, SAID PRESSER EDGE BEING ARRANGED TO APPLYPRESSURE AGAINST SAID SHEET MATERIAL DURING APPLICATION THEREOF IN ACONTINUOUS MANNER WHEN SAID APPLICATOR IS PRESSED AGAINST SAID SURFACEAND MOVED IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID SHEET MATERIAL IS TO BE APPLIEDWHEREBY SAID APPLICATOR MAY BE MANIPULATED TO APPLY A FORCE THRIUGH SAIDPRESSER EDGE TO EFFECT CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF SAID SHEETT MATERIAL TOSAID SURFACE AND SIMULTANEOUS SEPARATION THEREFROM OF SAID PROTECTIVESHEET,
 2. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide memberis formed in a generally cylindrical configuration having a diametraldimension and wherein the transverse distance across said bordersdefining said slot is less than said diametral dimension.
 3. Anapplicator according to claim 1 wherein said convex presser edge extendsalong a border of said concavity.
 4. An applicator according to claim 1including a convex presser edge located on each side of saidlongitudinal slot.
 5. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein each ofsaid pair of longitudinal borders is formed as a convex presser edge. 6.An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal body isconfigured as an integral structure shaped to define thereon saidconcavity, said longitudinal slot and said convex presser edge.
 7. Anapplicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member is removablymounted within said concavity.
 8. An applicator according to claim 1wherein said longitudinal body is configured in a generally U-shapedconfiguration with said concavity defined between the legs of saidU-shape.
 9. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinalbody is formed symmetrically about a plane which extends centrally alongthe length of said body and which is perpendicular to a plane containingsaid longitudinal slot.
 10. An applicator according to claim 1 whereinsaid body is formed to define said concavity as including a pair ofopposed keyways extending along said body and wherein said guide memberincludes at one end thereof a pair of oppositely extending blocks sizedto be engaged within said keyways to support said guide member.
 11. Anapplicator according to claim 1 wherein said guide member includes ablock affixed at one end thereof, said block being shaped to fit withinsaid concavity at one end of said longitudinal body and being affixedthereat to support said guide member.
 12. An applicator according toclaim 1 wherein said guide member is supported at two longitudinallyspaced apart locations, with the spacing between said supports beingsufficient to permit insertion therebetween of said sheet material. 13.An applicator according to claim 12 wherein said guide member includes apair of blocks affixed at each end thereof, said blocks being shaped tofit within said concavity at each end of said longitudinal body andbeing affixed thereat to support said guide member.
 14. An applicatoraccording to claim 1 wherein said guide member is formed as a generallyU-shaped channel member having a bevelled configuration at the endthereof opposite said one end to facilitate insertion of said sheetmaterial through said open end.
 15. AN APPLICATOR FFOR APPLYING TO ASURFACE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING ON ONE SIDE THEREOF A COATING OFPRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE AND A REMOVABLE PROTECTIVE SHEET EXTENDINGOVER SAID ADHESIVE COATING, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING: A LONGITUDINALBODY, A CONCAVITY DEFINED IN SAID BODY BY A WALL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALTHEREALONG, SAID CONCAVITY TERMINATING AT A PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINALBORDERS, A LONGITUDINAL SLOT EXTENDING ALONG SAID BODY PORTION ANDDEFINED BETWEEN SAID BORDERS OF SAID CONCAVITY, A CONVEX PRESSER EDGEADJACENT SAID CONCAVITY A SUPPLEMENT PRESSER SURFACE LOCATED ON A SIDEOF SAID PRESSER EDGE OPPOSITE SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT AND EXTENDING ALONGSAID LONGITUDINAL BODY, AND A LONGITUDINAL GUIDE MEMBER LOCATED WITHINSAID CONCAVITY AND SPACED THEREFROM TO PERMIT PASSAGE OF SAID SHEETMATERIAL ABOUT SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND BETWEEN SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND SAIDCONCAVITY WALL, SAID LONGITUDINAL SLOT BEING CONFIGURED TO PERMIT SAIDSHEET MATERIAL TO PASS CONTINUOUSLY THERETHROUGH INTO SAID CONCAVITYAROUND SAID GUIDE MEMBER AND OUTWARDLY THEREOF TO BETWEEN SAID PRESSEREDGE AND SAID SURFACE, SAID PRESSER EDGE BEING ARRANGED TO APPLYPRESSURE AGAINST SAID SHEET MATERIAL DURING THE APPLICATION THEREOF IN ACONTINUOUS MANNER WHEN SAID APPLICATOR IS PRESSED AGAINST SAID SURFACEAND MOVED IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID SHEET MATERIAL IS TO BE APPLIEDWHEREBY SAID APPLICATOR MAY BE MANIPULATED TO APPLY A FORCE THROUGH SAIDPRESSER EDGE TO EFFECT CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF SAID SHEETT MATERIAL TOSAID SURFACE AND SIMULTANEOUS SEPARATION THEREFROM OF SAID PROTECTIVESHEET, SAID SUPPLEMENTAL PRESSER SURFACE BEING ARRANGED TO ENGAGE SAIDSHEET MATERIAL SUBSEQUENT TO ENGAGEMENT THEREOF BY SAID PRESSER EDGE TOFACILITATE SMOOTH APPLICATION OF SAID SHEET MATERIAL TO SAID SURFACEWHEN SAID APPLICATOR IS MOVED IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID SHEETMATERIAL IS TO BE APPLIED.
 16. An applicator according to claim 15wherein said supplemental presser surface is formed as a convexprotuberance spaced from and extending parallel to said presser edge.17. An applicator according to claim 15 wherein said supplementalpresser surface is formed as a flat planar surface contiguous with andextending from said presser edge.